Agriculture and forestry can improve food security, according to a new United Nations report released today, at the start of World Forest Week.

Farming is globally the most significant driver of deforestation, but promoting a more positive interaction between agriculture and forestry can build sustainable agricultural systems and improve food systems, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

According to the publication, large-scale commercial agriculture in the tropics and subtropics accounts for about 40 per cent of deforestation, subsistence agriculture for 33 percent, and the rest is due to urban growth, infrastructure and mining.

“Food security can be achieved through agricultural intensification and other measures such as social protection, rather than through expansion of agricultural areas at the expense of forests,” said Eva Müller, Director of the agency’s Forestry Policy and Resources Division.

She noted the need for better cross-sectoral coordination of policies on agriculture, forestry, food and land use, as well as effective legal frameworks and stronger involvement of local communities.

“Governments should provide local communities not only with secure land tenure but also with secure forest tenure rights. A farmer knows best how to manage his or her own resources but often lacks legal instruments to do so,” Ms. Müller added.

Since 1990, more than 20 countries succeeded in improving national levels of food security while at the same time maintaining or increasing forest cover, demonstrating that it is not necessary to cut down forests to produce more food, FAO said.

This was due to effective legal frameworks, secure land tenure, measures to regulate land-use change, policy incentives for sustainable agriculture and forestry, adequate funding, and clear definition of roles and responsibilities of governments and local communities.

In Viet Nam, for example, one of the seven countries detailed in the report, successful land reform has encouraged long-term investment, and helped to shift control of forests from the state to local community and partners.

The meeting of the Committee on Forestry coincides with World Forest Week – a series of meetings and events sponsored by FAO and partners.